by Anne, Meg
His eyes were warm as he laced his fingers with hers. “No, I wouldn’t ask you to stay behind. Not after everything he’s put you through. This isn’t just my fight anymore, it’s all of ours.”
Skye glanced around the table as Lucas received a nod from every member of their party. Every single one of them had been hurt by this bastard, one way or another. Everyone here held their own personal grudge against the Druid.
Clearing his throat, Giles said, “I have an idea.”
He flinched as the others spun to look at him, but Maggie patted his arm encouragingly. He seemed to sit up straighter as he filled them in.
“There was a spell I found; it’s an amplification spell.”
“Like what the ley lines do?” James asked.
“Not quite,” Giles said. “While we do not have power of our own, not like Lucas and Oliver do, we do have something we can offer to help him.”
“A Druid’s magic is said to be the essence of life itself,” Maggie said softly, her eyes narrowing on Giles’ face as he nodded.
“Right. So, for a limited span of time, a Druid could amplify his own power by borrowing the life energy of another. Or in our case, others.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” Lizzie asked.
“It could be, in the hands of one who wanted to harm. But in order to work, it must be gifted willingly, which is likely the only reason Oliver hasn’t been doing it this whole time.”
Lucas didn’t look convinced. “How does it work?”
“We link ourselves to ye, so that when the time comes, ye can draw on our energy.”
“Like a battery,” James said.
Giles nodded. “Sure.”
“Batteries can be drained.” Lucas narrowed his eyes. “What’s going to keep me from taking too much from you guys?”
Giles shrugged. “It’s a risk. We’ll have to trust ye to only take what is needed.”
“Is there a way to limit what he can take?” Skye asked.
“Not that I know of.”
“But if we do it as a group, doesn’t that increase our chances of no one person being consumed?” James asked.
“That’s the hope,” Giles said.
“No.” Lucas shook his head. “No way, it’s too dangerous. I could lose control and kill you all.”
“Lucas,” Maggie said.
“I don’t want to put anyone else at risk.”
“You just said we’re all in this,” Skye murmured, squeezing his hand. “Let us help you.”
“Ye need the power, Lucas. It’s the only way to balance the scales.”
His Nan’s words did what the others could not. Hanging his head in defeat, Lucas muttered, “Fine.”
“So, what do we need to do?” Lizzie asked.
“First, I’m going to need to take some blood from each of ye.”
“Of fucking course you are,” Lucas groaned. “Just once, I wish I didn’t have to saw myself in half for shit to work.”
The others chuckled at his heartfelt gripe.
“How much do you need this time, Giles? One vein or two?” Lucas asked, rolling up a sleeve.
Giles smiled. “It shouldn’t take much, we just need enough that you can draw the rune on each of us.”
“How big’s the rune?” James asked, looking pale.
Lizzie pat his hand. “Not loving the idea of smearing blood on your body, babe?”
Skye watched his throat bob. Poor guy.
“It helps if you think of it as finger paint,” Skye offered.
James nodded. “I’ll try to remember that.”
Lizzie grabbed a clean bowl from the dish rack behind her while Giles pulled out a small pocket knife from his pocket.
“You’re like a damn boy scout, Giles. Always prepared,” Lucas said dryly.
“A what?” Giles asked.
“Never mind.”
Lizzie and James snickered.
“Does it matter who goes first?” Skye asked.
“Not who’s first. Lucas must be last, though, since ‘tis his blood that will bind them all together.”
“Then let’s get it over with,” she said, holding out her arm.
“Wait,” Maggie said, standing. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it right.”
She rushed out of the room, and the others glanced at each other in confusion. She was only gone for a few minutes before returning with a small red book, a chalice, and a silver knife.
“You didn’t like our supplies?” Lizzie asked, looking at her chipped bowl with purple heather hand painted along the sides.
“When a Druid performs a ritual, he should use the proper tools. It adds intention and meaning to the words.”
“And here I was thinking a finger in the palm of my bleeding hand was good enough,” Lucas said.
His Nan grinned. “Oh, it will work in a pinch, but if I learned anything from Oliver, it was that serious magic should be treated as such.”
Her words sobered the group, each one of them losing their smiles as they nodded. What they were doing was serious. This ritual could be the difference between all of them walking away from the fight alive, or zipped up in body bags.
“Alright, Nan, show me what to do,” Lucas said, his blue eyes leveled on hers.
“Repeat after me.” Sliding the blade along her palm, she said, “Beannaich an tabhartas seo.”
Lucas repeated her words, the Gaelic flowing from his lips as if it was his native language. In a way, Skye guessed that it was.
“Air a sgaradh le neart an neach a tha a 'toirt seachad,” Maggie prompted, as her blood dripped into the chalice.
“They don’t expect us to be able to remember all that, do they?” James whispered loudly.
Skye grinned as Maggie shook her head, and Lucas repeated her words.
Passing the chalice to Giles, Maggie said, “Is dòcha gun toir e buaidh.”
Once Lucas was finished, Lizzie asked, “Can you tell us what it means, Nan?”
She nodded, speaking the words in English as Giles made his offering, and Lucas spoke in Gaelic.
“Bless this offering. Infused with the strength of the giver, may it bring me victory.”
The hair on the back of Skye’s arms stood on end.
One after another, the remaining four added their blood to the chalice, each one of them saying, “May it bring us victory,” before passing the items to the next in line.
Once the blood was collected, Lucas looked expectantly at his Nan. “What next?”
Flipping open the book, she spun it around to him. “Now ye draw that, but don’t use the activation word until it’s time.”
“Where should I put it?” Lucas asked, studying the curling rune.
Maggie pulled down the neck of her blue sweater. “Just here, above our hearts. Spells are about symbols, Lucas. When it comes to the source of life, ye always use the heart.”
Since she was sitting closest, Skye copied Maggie’s move and tugged her shirt down.
“That’s my favorite shirt, you know,” Lucas said in a low voice, his lips lifting in a small smile.
“Is it?”
Dipping his finger into the cup of warm blood, he nodded. “It is now that I’ve seen you in it.”
Skye rolled her eyes as he traced the rune onto her skin. As soon as he completed the last flourish, the rune shone a soft green and faded into her skin.
James let out a low whistle. “This wizard shit will never cease to amaze me.”
Scowling, Maggie said, “They’re called Druids, not wizards, lad.”
Skye threw her head back and laughed, the sound rolling through the kitchen until the others joined in. They might be on the brink of their final battle, but they would live each moment they had left.
Together.
Chapter 29
Lucas
Lucas stared at the patchy grass between the towering stone slabs of the circle. They’d had to walk most of the way here, and without even setting sight on the first of the stones,
Lucas knew when they’d arrived. He could feel it in his blood, a tingling awareness that crawled up the back of his neck. It was invigorating, like he’d slammed back seven shots of espresso.
It rained most of the day, so the ground beneath them was a muddy mess, squelching loudly in protest every time he took a step, but the sky was clear now, and the first of the night’s stars shone down on them.
“I don’t like this place,” Skye said, rubbing her arms as she stopped beside him.
“Really?” he asked, surprised. He could easily see himself coming back here after everything was over.
She eyed him. “Maybe it's my Gypsy sense of self-preservation.”
Lucas grinned. “Must be.”
“It’s almost time,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“Are you ready?”
Her hair blew across her face in the breeze, and Lucas brushed it back. “As ready as I can be.”
She turned her face into his caress, her eyes falling closed. “We should probably get into position then, we don’t have much time before he gets here if Giles’ estimates are correct.”
Lucas nodded, linking his fingers through hers. “Let’s do it, then.”
He signaled to the others, and they met near the Easternmost stone. “It's showtime. You remember the signal, Nan?”
She nodded, her blue eyes shining. “However this ends, I am so proud of you, both of you,” she said, reaching out to cup Lizzie’s cheek.
“We’re just glad to have you back, Nan.” Lizzie covered the older woman’s hand with her own.
“I cannae begin to tell ye how wonderful ‘tis to see ye all grown up, lass. Ye have the look of yer mother. She wore her hair just the same,” Nan added, touching Lizzie’s trademark bun.
Lucas watched with a smile as Lizzie’s eyes teared up, and she responded with a choked, “Thank you.”
Turning her attention to him, Nan said, “I’m so grateful I had a chance to see the man ye’ve become, Lucas. So much like yer father.”
“Me too, Nan.” Lucas swallowed back the lump forming in his throat. His Nan’s words sounded suspiciously like a goodbye, and he refused to accept the idea that they may lose tonight.
“All will be well, Mags.” Giles stepped forward and smiled at her.
“Aye, I believe it will be.”
They shared a look so chock-full of emotion, that Lucas forced himself to look away. It reminded him too much of the looks he and Skye’d shared when they found each other again.
Gripping Skye’s hand, Lucas followed Lizzie and James out of the circle and toward the tree line just on the other side of the clearing. They needed to stay hidden long enough for the Druid to make his way into the center and right into their trap.
Once the bastard couldn’t leave, Lucas would make his grand entrance, and then he’d end this thing once and for all.
“Are you scared?” Skye whispered once they were out of the clearing.
Lucas smiled down at her. He’d never admit it, but he was terrified. He’d set up stings like this before, but the outcome had never been so crucial, or so unpredictable. The Druid was no ordinary criminal, and no matter what Lucas told himself, the evil bastard wasn’t going to make this easy. But now wasn’t the time for him to admit that to the rest of them. The others looked to him as their leader. They took their cues from him, used his strength to bolster their own, and right now, they needed to see unflappable confidence. Anything else would lead to doubt and uncertainty, two things they could not afford. Unwavering belief, the lack of hesitation in the most critical moments, would be the difference in how this played out.
Lucas brushed a kiss to Skye’s forehead. “Not even a little. I’ve got this, Giovanni.”
Her lips tightened; she knew him well enough to sense he wasn’t telling the full truth. Before she could dig further, Lucas pulled her against him for a soft, lingering kiss. If anything happened to him tonight, at least they’d been able to share these last few months together.
“Now, we wait,” Giles said, taking his place beside Lucas.
Pulling back from Skye, Lucas confirmed, “Now, we wait.”
Nan stood in the center of the clearing, the stone sentinels surrounding her like silent guards. Her hands were folded together as she stared straight ahead. She looked like she was preparing to deliver a speech and was just waiting for the audience to settle. There was no hint of fear about her. The woman was made of steel.
It wasn’t long, maybe all of five minutes, before a blast of light shot through the night, just outside the circle of stones. His Nan didn’t turn toward it, didn’t so much as flinch or acknowledge it in any way. But Lucas did. He straightened as the Druid stepped from the portal—which had already started to fade—a leer stretching across his face at the sight of his wife.
“Seems rather foolish to venture out at night. All sorts of monsters could be lurking about.”
It took everything in Lucas to not run out there now. Skye squeezed his hand, a silent reminder that he needed to wait.
“After years married to the worst of them, I find that monsters don’t much frighten me anymore. Hello, Oliver.”
Atta girl, Nan.
“Maggie.” The Druid tilted his head and took another step toward the circle. “What brings you all the way out here?”
“I needed to see ye.”
“Oh?”
Come on, you bastard, just a few more steps.
“Aye. Have some things to tell ye.”
“Missed me, then?”
“Hardly.”
Just a little closer. Lucas’ fingers bit into the bark of the tree he hid behind. The Druid was nearly inside the stone circle now; it was only a matter of a few more steps, and then Lucas could make his move.
“Tell me, Maggie-girl, what did being trapped all those years do to you? Druid or no, part of me wondered if you would up and disappear just like the others.”
One more step and he’d be right on the edge of their snare.
“Wouldn’t ye like to know?”
“I would. I’ve been wondering if it was possible for anyone to leave the Wasteland unchanged, and it seems that they cannot. I could feel it as soon as you stepped foot in this place, you know. The power; a Druid’s power.” He took the final step, crooning, “Imagine my delight when it was you I found waiting for me.”
With one last look at Skye, Lizzie, Matthews, and Giles, Lucas stepped out of the tree line. The Druid’s black eyes landed on Lucas the second he was clear. Lucas smiled.
“‘Och, I have no doubt ye felt the power, Oliver, but it was never mine.”
Snarling, the Druid tried to take a step back but was thrown forward by the force of the barrier. Landing on his hands and knees, the Druid looked up. Lucas’ smile grew at the sight of the old man’s fear.
“Fools!” The Druid pushed himself upright and charged.
Lucas flung a hand up, sending him flying back and away from Maggie.
“It’s over, Oliver. Ye will lose tonight, and I, for one, cannae wait to see ye bleed,” Maggie sneered, stepping out of the circle.
Lucas exchanged a look with his Nan before taking her place inside the stones.
Getting to his feet, the Druid tried to brush the mud from his cloak, but only served to smear it in deeper. With a shake of his head, he looked toward Lucas. “Seems you do have a few tricks up your sleeve, Grandson.”
Lucas continued moving, circling the Druid. “More than a few.”
“You may have trapped me, but you will not win. I possess more power than you could ever begin to comprehend. Isn’t that right, Seer?” he asked, throwing a grin at Skye, who stood just outside of the stones.
Skye went pale at the Druid’s words. Even from here, Lucas could see her throat bob. He clenched his fist. Focus.
“Ah, look. She remembers our time together fondly. Don’t worry, Seer. We’ll be together again soon.”
Lucas growled, and the Druid chuckled, throwing out a hand. Pow
er slammed into Lucas’ chest, but he held his ground. His feet slid in the mud, but he didn’t fall, and the look of surprise on the Druid’s face brought a smile to his own. As much as he wanted to draw out this bastard’s suffering, it was more than time to end this.
Focusing on the words of power he’d seen scrawled in his Nan’s book, Lucas repeated them over and over, A'tighinn beò. Without turning to them, he knew exactly where each of his friends stood. He could practically see them in his mind. The harder he focused on the words, the brighter they shone.
Still smiling, Lucas repeated the phrase a final time, drawing on the lives of those around him. Power flooded his system, and Lucas held his palm up, calling it forward. It was immediately responsive, threading through his body and collecting in his hands. The Druid stared in growing horror as the tiny needles of power gathered and began to pulse a deep red. Once the orb had grown to the size of a beach ball, Lucas released it straight into the Druid’s chest.
The force of the power threw his enemy back against the barrier. He ricocheted off and slammed back into the ground. The Druid was on his feet in an instant, but Lucas was ready.
Power unlike anything he’d ever felt surged through Lucas’ veins, and he grinned, immediately throwing another blast at the Druid, who stumbled back again before falling to his knees.
“Skye!” Lizzie’s startled cry pulled his focus.
Lucas looked over just in time to see Skye stumble. Did I use too much? Is she having another vision?
He started toward her, but Nan shook her head as she and Lizzie helped Skye back to her feet. Skye’s eyes fluttered open, looking huge in her pale face as they flared wide.
Lucas turned his attention back to the Druid a second too late. A blast of power barreled into him before he could block it. He slammed back into one of the large stones. Vision swimming and ears ringing, Lucas staggered, but didn’t hit the ground.
“Your Nan believes family makes you stronger,” the Druid sneered, moving closer. “But the only purpose they serve is to distract you.” Black power blazing in his eyes, he gripped Lucas’ throat.
